Here the new chapter. It's shorter than the previous one.
I have to say, I'm surprised by the success of this story. I was expecting a complete flop but people actually like it, so it's a nice surprise ! Thanks !
Enjoy !
Chapter 3
[No time skip]
Twenty minutes later, they were back at the office.
"-Hey Reid!
-Hey guys!
-Hotch isn't there?
-No, he's speaking with Tsunade. Did you find something?
-Definitely." As Emily spoke with Spencer, Aaron came into the room.
"-So?" asked Derek.
"-I went to see Tsunade about the confidentiality of the case. As she says, she's well aware that it isn't easy to lead an investigation like this one, but she can't help us. We were given everything that we're cleared to see. Everything else is off limits.
-We can't exactly say it's a surprise. Our CIA hardly thrusts us enough to call us more than once. Here we're not even from the same country, can't blame them for being prudent.
-Yeah, but it doesn't help us.
-I know, Morgan, I know. So, did you find Kakashi?
-We did. We also met this guy, Asuma. Apparently he works with Kakashi from time to time. I'd say they've known each other for a long time; Asuma seemed to know him pretty well. He helped us find Kakashi.
-Apparently, Sakura was wrong. According to Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke were friends.
-Yes, they related to the other: lonely childhood, no one to care for them. The rest of Kakashi's version matches Sakura's.
-Did you find anything else?
-This is definitely some sort of military organization.
-What make you say that?
-Asuma and Kakashi wore the same uniform as that Kotetsu guy. From what Asuma told us, training is a full part of their job and Kakashi kept referring to his team as a 'squad'.
-Do you think Sasuke was part of that too?
-Yes. First, Tsunade did tell us he was one of their agents. But Kakashi said he became head of the squad when they were twelve.
-That would be when he graduated. Are you saying that they enroll children?
-I think they do.
-Am I the only one who's shocked by that?
-No, Reid. But that's not all. Kakashi told us that it's been a few years since they last saw Sasuke. Despite that, they are absolutely sure he's the unsub. According to him, they would be able to recognize Sasuke'skills anytime.
-What skills?
-I think he was talking about his killing skills," said darkly Derek. "I don't think this is just any kind of military organization.
-Oh my God, you're right!" exclaimed Emily. "When we were in Tsunade's office this morning, she ordered Naruto to deal with some group of troublemakers. He asked her if he had to deal with them permanently…
-Wow, wow, wow, guys! Do you realize what you're saying is huge?
-Reid is right. You can't just accuse these people of being cold-blooded killers.
-But Hotch…
-No. We do know that this is a special organization, we were warned it was like the CIA, we did figure out that it was somehow military-based. Okay. But you would be wrong to bring it to that kind of level. Our CIA agents do have killing skills, even we have killing skills, the military do have killing skills, it's part of the job. Now, we go back to our work, and deal with the case like we would a CIA case, am I clear?
-Very."
A few days later Emily and Spencer decided to go for a walk. It was still early in the evening but they were off duty for there wasn't any need to hurry on the case. They had decided to relax and enjoy the warmth of the late-spring evening. As they walked through the park to a little restaurant they wanted to try out, Emily said:
"-Did you notice how everything is quiet here?
-Yeah. There are a lot of people but surprisingly the city is pretty quiet. There isn't any noise, people don't fight… We've been here for quite some time and I've never seen anything like bar-fight or whatever.
-It's a good change from what we know, right. No cars, no trucks, no traffic, no noise, no pollution. It's like we are in the XIXth century and yet, they have phones, television, computers… It's amazing."
Soon the restaurant came into view, almost in front of one of the park entrances. It was a Japanese-style noodle restaurant. They went inside and took a seat at the counter. After ordering, they carried on their conversation.
"-I wonder though," said Spencer, "What if there is a fire or something? I didn't see any fire station and if there is no car…
-You're not from here, are you?" asked kindly the owner of the stand. "Don't worry, we have our own way of dealing with that kind of things.
-How?
-Aah. It would be quite complicated to explain… So, what do you think of our village?
-Well… It's… It's interesting, nothing like what we know, yet not that different.
-That's our home," he said proudly, "I've lived here all my life, and my parents before me. I've travelled around a bit when I was a young man, but there's nothing like Konoha.
-That's right, old man!" came a deep voice from the entrance.
"-Ah! Asuma-san! Haven't seen you in a while.
-Sorry. I've been around, you know what it's like.
-Don't worry. I'll forgive you as soon as you sit down.
-Ahah! Thanks, old man. It'll be the usual." He said as he sat down next to Spencer. "Miss Prentiss." He nodded to Emily.
"-Mr Sarutobi. This is my colleague Dr Spencer Reid.
-Sarutobi Asuma, nice to meet ya. Just call me Asuma.
-Nice to meet you.
-So, enjoying life in our wonderful village?
-As you can see. It's nice not to think about your job for a few moments.
-I know what you mean, believe me I do. I guess working as a profiler isn't easy stuff, uh?
-Not exactly." Said Emily.
"-What is it like anyway? If you don't mind me spoiling your diner.
-Not at all. Like you said, being a profiler isn't easy. You have to understand things that others don't, to anticipate what others can't even imagine, you have to see things on a daily basis that you wouldn't even want as nightmare. But worst of all, you have to think, to understand. We have not only to understand the killer, but to become him. To think like him, to anticipate his every move.
-Basically, we analyze his whole being, mentally speaking, and manipulate our own way of thinking into thinking like a killer," added Spencer. "His likes and dislikes become our own, his every needs become our own.
-What kind of person do I want to kill? Where, when? How? What do I want to do to him or her before their actual death? Will I let them die or will I play with them? Will I use a knife, acid, electricity? Will I break their mind before breaking their body? We have to feel all those things. You wouldn't believe what the human being is able to do, how twisted the mind can become.
-I think I do." Said Asuma darkly. After a few seconds, Emily answered:
"-Maybe you do."
A few minutes passed in silence. The tension was broken when Teuchi served everyone their order and they began to eat in a lighter mood. They discussed a bit more after they were done. Not long after, Emily and Spencer decided to call it a night and return to their hotel. They thanked the restaurant's owner and wished Asuma a good evening.
"- Call Otter for me, would you?
-Hai, Hokage-sama!"
A few minutes later, Otter, mask in place, was facing the chief of the village.
"- Hokage-sama " he saluted.
-"Otter. Thank you for coming this fast. I heard you had something for me.
-I do. I needed a few days to confirm the matter and confront it with the Chief's other sources, but I can report now.
-I'm listening.
-Sound is moving.
-They've been playing dirty for the past few weeks.
-Indeed, but we have confirmation that they're preparing for something big. The sources reported that they're buying good quality weapons in various villages. It took us some time to see a pattern due to the geographical spreading of their purchases. They're also more discreet, they don't go around raiding small villages like they used to.
-I see. Does Ibiki have anything?
-Not that I know of. T&I has been quite frustrated by that.
-Hm. Does the Chief know about that?
-He does. And I think he's working on that, too.
-How so?
-Well, knowing him, he's probably going to find someone for Ibiki to talk to." Otter said matter-of-factly. His boss was… dedicated. And always willing to help other Konoha shinobis. He had left the day before and would probably return in a few days with a gift for Ibiki, the head of the Torture and Interrogation department. Otter wasn't particularly surprised by the fact that Tsunade didn't know the Chief was gone: he was a secretive guy who seemed never to get reprehended for his liberties with the protocol. Deep down Otter thought that his boss was a scary son of a bitch. The guy was just and fair and could be nice when he wanted to, but when he was in business mode, he could be downright scary. To be fair, he had never been voluntarily scaring his subordinates but he managed his networks with an iron hand and a no-nonsense attitude that one needed some time to get used to. Otter, like his colleagues, trusted his superior with his life without question and would follow him everywhere. It was no secret. One thing he didn't hide from his colleagues either – and they agreed with him – was that their Chief, as they had nicknamed him, was someone he would never ever dare to cross. He had seen the man get pissed at someone once and it had him rethink his assessment of one Morino Ibiki as a scary man.
Tsunade didn't seem surprised by the fact that one of her shinobis had left the village without her knowing and ordering it: the Chief was a special case.
"-Very well. Otter, you will tell Ibiki that I want to know everything he gets from whoever it is the Chief brings him as soon as the interrogation is over. You and your team, keep digging, I want to know exactly what Sounds is preparing, although I have a pretty good idea. If all is cleared, you're dismissed.
-Hai, Tsunade-sama!" Otter bowed and left her office.
The blonde leader closed her eyes for a moment, thinking. Although it was no surprise, the news wasn't a good one. The timing sucked. Damn.
"-Shizune ! Get me Shikaku!
-Hai!"
Ten minutes later, the head of the Nara clan stood before her.
"-Good afternoon, Shikaku.
-Good afternoon, Hokage-sama.
-Sit. How is everything going?
-Quite well. Three chuunins have been spotted but not by our guests so I would say so far so good. It might become trickier from next week onward. I have them hide for two weeks to test their ability to infiltrate a village on a mid-term basis, but after that, we'll have to arrange for something else.
-I know. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime I need you on another assignment. Your son is welcomed to help, as anyone you would see fit. Here is what you have to do…"
The BAU team had been there for almost two weeks and had spent dozens of hours thinking and focusing on the information they had been given. Derek was frustrated by the lack of useful or up-to-date data and was growing restless. Emily had made a few remarks about running in circles. Spencer had been studying each and every document a dozen times in the hope of finding something he wouldn't have seen earlier, however improbable. Even Aaron had to admit he was growing quite frustrated too. They had explored the village a bit more in the hope of understanding its inhabitants better – and also because they had grown tired of their small, windowless working room. Derek had suggested calling David in but the idea had been abandoned: one more person wouldn't change the fact that they didn't have enough to build a precise, in-depth profile. Aaron had taken the matter to Tsunade two more times but to no avail. They managed to build a profile alright, but it was probably outdated and they felt that it wouldn't be sufficient to help arrest Sasuke. Aaron sighed: Derek was right, they needed more and more accurate information.
In the last week they hadn't see much of anyone. They had come across Asuma once and they thought they passed by the guy who had interrupted their meal with Sakura on their first day – was his name Kida? Kiba? They hadn't seen the pink-haired girl. Each day, someone different would bring them tea and coffee with sandwiches or snacks.
"-Ok, guys, let's take a break. We're running in circles and we need fresh air." Aaron was only answered by grunts of agreement as everyone moved to leave the room. As they made their way to the outside, Derek asked:
"-Hotch, you think we could find or ask for someplace to do sport? This thing is getting on my nerves and I need to do something. Surely they have some facilities we could use?
-Probably. I'll go ask Tsunade.
-Don't bother, I got this.
-You sure?
-Yeah. Just go outside, breathe, do something. I won't be long." He then turned to Emily. "You interested?
-Not right now, but I will definitely need to let off some steam later, yeah. Thanks, Morgan.
-Sure. See you later.
-Yeah." With that, they all left the building, Emily, Spencer and Aaron on their way, and Derek heading to Tsunade's office.
A few hours later Derek and Emily were sparring against one another in what looked like a dojo. Tsunade had agreed to let them use one of the dojo in a building not far away from the academy. They had found a store where they bought sportswear (they had not brought any with them).
"-Man, that feels good!" said Emily as she stretched her legs after a short warm-up session.
"-I hear you." Answered Derek. "So, what shall we do?
-Basic hand combat?
-Let's blow some steam, baby." Derek said, grinning as he shifted his body into a fighting stance. They had let the door of the room open to let fresh air in. Emily shifted to another position, also grinning. She was the first to move. Like always. Derek was never the one to initiate the sparring fight, which didn't mean he would go easy on her. He liked sparring with Emily. Of their team, she was the only one who liked training and sports as much as he did. And he knew she was working like him and needed this to feel better when growing restless, as was the case for the past week. Their movements were fluid, proof that this wasn't the first time they trained together. Almost each blow was blocked or deflected. Both had managed to land a few blows, however. They moved from one combat style to another. Emily' style was more fluid and graceful than Derek's as she used more Oriental combat techniques. Derek used more Western combat styles but the both of them knew how to adapt their fighting to work with the other.
"-Ouch!" breathed Derek as Emily landed a strong blow to his abdomen. "Mama, that hurt!
-Oh come on, Baby Boy! Don't go crying on me now." She answered, still grinning. As they continued their spar, they didn't notice the pairs of eyes on them. Kakashi and a masked man were standing in the doorway, observing the two. Tsunade had asked Owl to observe their sparring. Kakashi had come across the ANBU as he left Tsunade's office and decided to follow him and see for himself how they fought. Obviously they would be no match for him but he had to admit that he was surprised by what he saw. They were good. Their speed was nowhere his own but that was to be expected from civilians. Even though, they would probably be a good match for a good chuunin not using chakra. Their technique was good, too. He could tell that they were using a combination of several styles and that they had mastered them, too. He didn't know the styles they were using, which was and wasn't a surprise. Both BAU agents were smiling as they exchanged blows. They weren't afraid to put quite some force in each one, knowing that it would be intercepted or that the other could take it.
"-Not bad" whispered Owl.
"-Indeed. Interesting, too.
-Yes. They're civilians, right?
-Hm.
-Not bad at all." As he finished his comment, a loud noise resounded in the room.
"-You got me, Mama!" Derek was flat on his back, Emily having him locked in an immobilizing grip.
"-One point for the girl!" Her tone was light. As they both got to their feet, Kakashi approached them, Owl nowhere to be seen.
"-Not bad!
-Kakashi! Long time no see.
-I saw you found our public facilities.
-Yeah, Tsunade was kind enough to let us use it." Emily answered. She was wearing a black, covering sport bra with black leggings. As she turned to go to her bag and take a bottle of water, Kakashi noticed an ugly scar on her lower back. When she turned back to them, handing another bottle to Derek, he noticed a bigger, matching scar on her lower abdomen. Derek seemed to notice that Kakashi saw it but neither made a remark. That girl is strong if she survived such a wound, Kakashi thought.
"-Maah, I was just passing in the building and heard you so I figured I could come and say hi. I didn't mean to interrupt.
-Not at all, we were finished when I wiped his ass." Joked Emily.
"-Ahah, very funny. I won't let you win next time.
-You keep telling yourself that.
-Next time?" Asked Kakashi.
"-Well yes. This case is not easy and we need to blow off some steam once in a while, you know?
-Plus we need to stay in shape.
-Hm." Kakashi reflected on that for a few seconds. "Would you like to participate in a joined training session sometime?" Emily and Derek were a bit surprised at that. "You seem to know you stuff and you just said so: you need to train. I thought we could have a joined session: you and my team. It would be nice to have new guys around.
"-Hum. Ok, sure. Morgan?
-Yeah, why not.
-I'll let you know where and when to meet, then. Well, see you around!
-See you." Derek and Emily answered at the same time. When Kakashi was out of the room, they exchanged a glance, both surprised by the proposition.
As Kakashi left the room Owl appeared beside him.
"-You were very talkative, sempai.
-Hn.
-… That didn't last long." At that, Kakashi sighed and disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Owl sighed and disappeared too: he had a report to give.